If it's important to the health and prosperity of the region, does it make any difference what pot of money pays for it?
I once challenged a County Commissioner with this concept when he wanted to shift Room Tax from his Destination Marketing Organization to beach renourishment. Fine, I said. Use the Room Tax for the beaches. But, as tourism is a key driver of your economy, are you willing to replace those DMO revenues with General Purpose Revenue funds?
"You can't do that," he sputtered. And, of course...he was wrong (and, I think, knew it), as the County had always used GPR revenues to support its Economic Development unit. And Tourism IS economic development.
Word in from Virginia is that Governor Bob McDonnell intends to use sales tax revenues to jump-start stalled projects such as hotels, water parks and entertainment centers in hopes of driving more visitors to the state.
This new crop of Governors over the past couple years? Damn...they just may have a clue.
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